CBBC praised for airing miniseries First Day about transgender girl starting high school

Channel was recently praised for broadcasting same-sex kiss on ‘The Next Step’

CBBC has been praised for airing a groundbreaking TV series about a transgender school girl.

The opening episode of Australian series First Day was broadcast on the children’s channel on Wednesday (19 August).

The drama follows 12-year-old Hannah Bradford (Evie MacDonald), a transgender girl, as she heads to high school for the first time.

The four-episode miniseries first aired in Australia in March, making MacDonald the first trans actor to play the lead role in a scripted TV drama in the country’s history.

In the First Day trailer, Hannah is seen preparing to join a new school and dealing with the pressures of being bullied and deadnamed.

Evie MacDonald as Hannah in ‘First Day’ (CBBC)

CBBC was widely praised for its decision to air the show, with Pride in London tweeting: “Today @cbbc aired the 1st episode of award-winning miniseries First Day, which follows transgender pupil Hannah as she starts a new year at school. Brilliant to have such important representation for trans kids on our screens!”

One viewer wrote: “I am watching First Day with my 7yr old daughter. It is absolutely fantastic. I am so pleased that this programme is on as its so important to support transgender kids and help others to kindly understand. Well done. It’s brilliant.”

Last month, the channel, whose primary audience are aged six to 13, also received praise for airing a historical same-sex kiss on dance mockumentary The Next Step.

When the scene prompted some complaints, the BBC stood by the decision, stating: “CBBC regularly portrays heterosexual young people dating, falling in love, and kissing, and it is an important way of showing children what respectful, kind and loving relationships look like.”